Background

Cheng Yaojin was born during the Sui dynasty in Dong'e County, Ji Prefecture (濟州), which is located southwest of present-day Dongping County, Tai'an, Shandong. He was highly skilled in horse-riding and using the shuo (槊; a type of long spear).

Cheng Yaojin's great-grandfather, Cheng Xing (程興), served as a Major in Yan Prefecture (兗州; around present-day Jining, Shandong) during the Northern Qi dynasty. His grandfather, Cheng Zhe (程哲), also served as a Major in Huang Prefecture (黃州; around present-day Hengyang, Hunan) under the Northern Qi regime. His father, Cheng Lou (程婁), served as a Senior Rectifier (大中正) in Ji Prefecture (濟州; covering parts of present-day Liaocheng, Shandong and Puyang, Henan) and the Prefect (刺史) of Ying Prefecture (瀛州; around present-day Hejian, Hebei).

Service under Li Mi and Wang Shichong

Towards the end of the Sui dynasty, chaos broke out throughout China and bandits were rampant. Cheng Yaojin rallied hundreds of followers to defend their hometown from attacks and raids by bandits. He later came to serve the rebel leader Li Mi, who treated him respectfully and generously and made him a bodyguard. Cheng Yaojin was also a commander of the 8,000 horsemen who formed the "Inner Corps" (內軍) of Li Mi's army. Li Mi was at war with another rebel leader, Wang Shichong. Cheng Yaojin led a cavalry detachment and was stationed at Beimang (北邙; in western Henan at the northern part of the Qin Mountains range) while his colleague Shan Xiongxin (單雄信) garrisoned at Yanshi (偃師; present-day Yanshi, Luoyang, Henan). When Wang Shichong attacked Shan Xiongxin's position, Li Mi sent Cheng Yaojin and Pei Xingyan (裴行儼) to lead troops to reinforce Shan. Pei Xingyan was hit by an arrow in the midst of battle and fell off his horse. Cheng Yaojin fought his way through enemy lines, rescued Pei Xingyan, brought him onto horseback and rode off. Wang Shichong's men tried to stop them with long spears, but Cheng Yaojin broke the spears, killed the pursuers and managed to escape to safety.

Cheng Yaojin became a prisoner-of-war after Li Mi was defeated by Wang Shichong. Although Wang Shichong treated him generously, he still felt disgruntled with Wang's ways and complained about Wang to his former colleague, Qin Qiong. When Wang Shichong was at war with the Tang faction led by Li Yuan at Jiuqu (九曲), Cheng Yaojin and Qin Qiong defected to the Tang side on the battlefield along with their followers. Wang Shichong was afraid of them so he did not order his men to stop them.

Service under Emperor Gaozu

The faction led by Li Yuan eventually formed the Tang dynasty while Li himself became historically known as "Emperor Gaozu of Tang". Cheng Yaojin was appointed as a military officer under Li Yuan's second son, Li Shimin (the Prince of Qin). He fought for the Tang Empire against rival warlords such as Wang Shichong, Song Jingang and Dou Jiande, who were either defeated or surrendered to Tang. Cheng Yaojin was enfeoffed as the "Duke of Su" for his contributions in battle.

In 624, when there was an ongoing rivalry between Li Shimin and his eldest brother, Li Jiancheng (the Crown Prince), over the succession to their father's throne, Li Jiancheng became very suspicious and distrustful of Cheng Yaojin. Emperor Gaozu appointed Cheng Yaojin as the Prefect of Kang Prefecture (康州; around present-day Zhaoqing, Guangdong), effectively sending him far away from the capital, Chang'an (present-day Xi'an, Shaanxi). Cheng Yaojin told Li Shimin, "Great Prince, if you lose your left and right arms, you will not survive long. I will not leave you, even if it means I will die." On 2 July 626, Cheng Yaojin joined Li Shimin in assassinating Li Jiancheng and his fourth brother, Li Yuanji (the Prince of Qi), at the Xuanwu Gate Incident, after which Li Shimin became the new Crown Prince. He was appointed as a "Right Guard Commander to the Crown Prince" (太子右衛率) and subsequently promoted to "Right Martial Guard Senior General" (右武衛大將軍) and awarded 700 taxable households in his dukedom.

Service under Emperor Taizong

Li Shimin eventually succeeded his father and became historically known as "Emperor Taizong of Tang". During Emperor Taizong's reign, Cheng Yaojin served as the Grand Viceroy of Lu Prefecture (瀘州; around present-day Luzhou, Sichuan) and "Left Commanding Senior General" (左領軍大將軍). He and his colleague, Zhangsun Wuji, were granted permission to allow their descendants to inherit their governorship over their respective prefectures. His ducal title was later changed to "Duke of Lu" and he was appointed as the Prefect of Pu Prefecture (普州; around present-day Ziyang, Sichuan). In 643, he was reassigned to be the "Left Garrison Guardian Senior General" (左屯衛大將軍), put in command of the Northern Garrison, and promoted to "Senior General Who Defends the Army" (鎮軍大將軍).

Emperor Taizong ordered the artist Yan Liben to paint life-sized portraits of Cheng Yaojin and another 23 officials who rendered meritorious service to the Tang Empire. The 24 portraits were put on display in Lingyan Pavilion.

Service under Emperor Gaozong

Cheng Yaojin outlived Emperor Taizong and continued serving under Emperor Taizong's successor, Emperor Gaozong. In 655, he was appointed as "Left Guardian Senior General" (左衛大將軍). In 657, he participated in the Tang campaign against the Western Turks. When his army reached Hengdu City (怛篤城; present-day location uncertain), thousands of Turkic civilians came out of their homes to surrender, but Cheng Yaojin ordered his troops to massacre the city's population and the Turkic army used the opportunity to retreat further. Cheng Yaojin was stripped of his military command after he returned from the campaign, but was later appointed as the Prefect of Qi Prefecture (岐州; around present-day Baoji, Shaanxi). However, he wrote a memorial to Emperor Gaozong, requesting to retire. The emperor approved his request.

Death

Cheng Yaojin died in his home in Huaide Village (懷德里) on 26 February 665. He was 77 (by East Asian age reckoning) at the time of his death. He was posthumously honoured as "Senior General of Chariots and Cavalry" (驃騎大將軍) and Grand Viceroy of Yi Prefecture (益州; covering parts of the Sichuan basin). He was buried in the Zhao Mausoleum, where Emperor Taizong was interred.

Family

Cheng Yaojin had three sons: Cheng Chumo (程處默), Cheng Chuliang (程處亮) and Cheng Chubi (程處弼). Cheng Chumo inherited his father's ducal title and dukedom as the "Duke of Lu". Cheng Chuliang married Emperor Taizong's daughter, Princess Qinghe (清河公主), and held the positions of Chief Commandant of Escorting Cavalry and Left Guard General of the Household (左衛中郎將). Cheng Chubi served as Right Jinwu General (右金吾將軍). Cheng Chubi's son, Cheng Boxian (程伯獻), served as Left Jinwu Senior General (左金吾大將軍) during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong.

Cheng Yaojins tomb

Cheng Yaojin's tomb is located in the Zhao Mausoleum in present-day Liquan County, Xianyang, Shaanxi. The tombstone was unearthed in 1986 and bore the heading "Tomb of the Late Lord Cheng, Senior General of Chariots and Cavalry and Duke of Lu of the Great Tang Empire". The tombstone was 78 cm long and 15 cm thick. Cheng Yaojin's biography was inscribed on the tombstone by Xu Jingzong and contained more than 2,000 hanzis. There are additional details about his life inscribed on the tombstone that were not recorded in his official biographies in the Old Book of Tang and New Book of Tang.

In popular culture

Cheng Yaojin is often depicted in Chinese folklore and popular culture as a somewhat inept and bumbling warrior who sometimes shows up at the right place and right time to save the day. There are two popular Chinese sayings related to Cheng Yaojin:

• "Cheng Yaojin shows up suddenly along the way": Used to describe a situation where someone shows up unexpectedly and disrupts a plan. It is also used to describe an unwelcome busybody who shows up where he/she is not wanted.

• "Cheng Yaojin and his three axe strokes": Used to describe someone with a limited repertoire of skills, i.e. someone relying on the same old tricks.

家世

曾祖父程興，北齊兗州司馬。祖父程哲，北齊晉州司馬。父親程婁，濟州大中正，後追贈使持節瀛州諸軍事、瀛州刺史。

生平

程知節出身東平程氏，濟州東阿人。程知節是唐初猛將，少驍勇，善于騎馬用槊擊刺。大業六年（610年）起，盜賊蜂起，程知節組織了一支數百人的武裝，護衛鄉里。後投奔瓦崗李密，得到重用，為內軍驃騎之一。李密在軍中挑選出勇烈之士八千人，隸屬四驃騎，分為左右，號稱內軍。李密曾自豪道：「此八千人可當百萬。」程知節領導其中一軍，受到李密厚待。618年（唐高祖武德元年），王世充與李密決戰。王世充軍攻擊單雄信部，李密派遣程知節及裴行儼增援。戰鬥中，裴行儼中流矢墜馬，程知節連斬數人，抱起裴行儼向後撤退。追兵用槊刺穿他的身體，程知節將槊折斷，殺了追兵才逃脫。李密戰敗，王世充俘獲程知節，任命他為將軍，待之甚厚。

降唐

武德二年（619年），因鄙夷王世充為人多詐，程知節與秦叔寶、吳黑闥、牛進達等數十人一起投唐，被任命為秦王府左三統軍。此後，程知節追隨秦王李世民，先後擊敗宋金剛、竇建德、王世充，每陣先登，屢立戰功，封宿國公。

武德七年，太子李建成與秦王李世民爭位期間，程知節被外任為康州刺史，他對秦王說：「大王您的左膀右臂現在被一一斬除，身體還能長久保全嗎？知節就算死，也不能離開。」武德九年六月四日玄武門之變，程知節亦參與其中。玄武門之變後，拜太子右衛率，遷右武衛大將軍，實封七百戶。貞觀年間，歷任瀘州都督、左領軍大將軍。與長孫無忌等代襲刺史，改封盧國公，授普州刺史。貞觀十七年（643年）拜左屯衛大將軍，檢校北門屯兵，加封鎮軍大將軍。太宗命人于凌煙閣繪製功臣二十四人畫像，程知節位列十九。

永徽六年，遷左衛大將軍。顯慶年間（655年－657年），程知節以蔥山道行軍總管領兵出征西突厥阿史那賀魯，為唐朝與西突厥第二次戰役。由于在恆篤城進行大屠殺，以及錯失戰機，返回後被免職。沒多久，授岐州刺史，持節岐州諸軍事。後上書請求辭官養老，高宗允之。

麟德二年二月七日（665年2月26日），程知節在懷德里第去世，年七十七歲（虛歲），追贈驃騎大將軍、益州大都督，謚號襄，贈絹布一千匹、米粟一千石，陪葬昭陵。

歷任官職

• 隋開皇九年（589年）出生。

• 隋大業六年（610年），在家鄉濟州東阿聚集數百人，成立保鄉團。

• 隋大業十二年（616年），去河南滑縣參加李密瓦崗軍，被署為驃騎軍四驃騎之一的內軍驃騎首領。四驃騎為帳內驃騎秦瓊、外馬軍驃騎單雄信、王伯當。

• 唐武德元年（618年）九月，李密被王世充擊敗，此戰中程知節為救裴行儼，被長槊洞穿身體，瓦崗軍被王世充收編，王世充待他甚厚。九曲之戰前與秦瓊、牛進達、吳黑闥等人一起投唐，拜上大將軍。

• 武德三年（620年），時秦王李世民專掌軍事征討，程知節以驍勇被引入秦王府為左三統軍。後領左一馬軍總管。以功封宿國公，食邑三千戶。

• 武德四年（621年），被外派為使持節康州諸軍事、康州刺史。被李世民留住，任右二府護軍。

• 武德九年（626年）六月四日，李世民發動玄武門之變，事定之後，程知節被賞賜絹六千匹、駿馬二匹、並金裝鞍轡及金胡瓶、金刀、金碗等物，加上柱國，掌管東宮右衛率。不久拜右武衛大將軍，賜實封七百戶。

• 貞觀元年（627年），授使持節都督瀘、戎、榮三州諸軍事、瀘州刺史（四川瀘州）。鎮壓鐵山獠人叛亂，賞賜絹二百匹、御服玉帶一條。

• 貞觀七年（633年），拜左領軍大將軍。第二子程處亮封東阿縣公，授駙馬都尉，迎娶10歲的清河公主。

• 貞觀八年（634年），檢校原州都督（今寧夏固原）。

• 貞觀十一年（637年），檢校太宗第七子李惲的蔣王府長史。六月，唐太宗封建功臣，程知節被授為普州刺史，改封盧國公，真食七百戶，子孫代代承襲。

• 拜使持節都督幽、易、檀、平、燕、媯六州諸軍事、幽州刺史。

• 貞觀十七年（643年），授左屯衛大將軍，於北門（玄武門）檢校屯兵。

• 貞觀十八年（644年），唐太宗征討高句麗，留守長安。

• 貞觀二十二年（648年），加鎮軍大將軍。

• 貞觀二十三年（649年），唐太宗駕崩，程知節自翠微宮奉敕統率飛騎軍護衛皇太子李治回朝繼位，並在左延明門外連續宿衛三個月。

• 永徽六年（655年），從左屯衛大將軍遷任左衛大將軍，兼檢校屯營兵馬。

• 顯慶二年（657年），西突厥阿史那賀魯反唐，69歲的程知節任蔥山道行軍大總管，率軍征討，九月與賀魯之子阿史那咥運交戰，斬首數千級。在怛篤城屠殺投降的胡人數千家，獲得大量財物。阿史那賀魯遠遁別處。十二月程知節因領軍逗留，追賊不及，被免職。由蘇定方等四將軍接替。不久程知節再次被任命為岐州刺史。此後上表請求致仕，唐高宗批准。

• 麟德二年二月初七日（665年2月27日），在懷德里家中去世，享年七十七。高宗下詔追贈驃騎大將軍、益州大都督，陪葬于昭陵。謚曰襄公。同年十月十一日葬于九嵕山之原。

家族

• 曾祖父：程興，北齊兗州司馬。

• 祖父：程哲，北齊晉州司馬。

• 父：程婁，濟州大中正，後追贈使持節瀛州諸軍事、瀛州刺史。一作程玉，隋濟州大都督。

　• 前夫人：孫氏，縣令陸兒第三女，封宿國夫人。貞觀二年六月廿一日薨于懷德里第，年三十一（隋開皇十八年（598年）—唐貞觀二年六月二十一日（628年7月27日））。

　• 後夫人：清河崔氏，齊郡公崔遜之孫，隋任齊州別駕崔信之長女，顯慶三年十二月廿一日終于懷德里第（長安朱雀門街西第五街內有懷德坊），時年六十有七（隋開皇十三年（593年）—唐顯慶三年十二月二十一日（659年1月19日））。

　　• 長子：程處嗣，明威將軍、桂州溎南府折衝都尉。新舊兩唐書稱程處默，襲爵盧國公。

　　• 次子：程處亮，以功臣子尚唐太宗女清河公主李敬，授駙馬都尉、東阿縣開國公、左衛中郎將，終寧遠將軍。

　　• 五子：程處政，字彥道，官至朔州司馬。

　　• 少子：程處弼，官至右金吾將軍、汴州刺史，授廣平郡開國公。

　　　• 孫：程伯獻（？—738年），字尚賢，襲爵廣平郡公，終于鎮軍大將軍行右衛大將軍，贈戶部尚書，謚號莊。墓誌銘作程處弼子。夫人南陽樊周，字大雅，司宗卿樊德慶之孫，恆州長史樊瓘之次女，年五十四，先伯獻而薨。有二子：程若冰、程若水

　　　　• 曾孫：程若冰

　　　　• 曾孫：程若水

　　　　　• 玄孫：程昌胤（725年—784年），程若水第二子，官殿中御史。四子：程肅模，程肅詠，程肅言，程肅敏。

　　　　　• 玄孫：程昌締

　　　　　• 玄孫：程昌穆

　　• 庶子：程處寸，官戶部郎中、綿州刺史。子程策。程策子徐州節度隨軍朝議郎、前試太子家令、賞緋魚袋程翰林，《全唐文補遺》第5輯32頁有墓誌。

　　• 庶子：程處立，官相州城安縣令。《全唐文補遺》第4輯414頁有其與夫人和幹（貞觀十四年（640年）—開元十七年四月八日（729年5月10日））墓誌。和幹為和智方女，字貞堅。長女為右領軍中候妻。

　　• 庶子：程俊（貞觀四年（630年）—顯慶元年十二月二十日（657年1月10日）），字處俠，東宮通事舍人。

文藝作品中的程咬金

在以《說唐》為代表的系列話本及歷史演義小說中，程咬金，字知節，小名一郎，使一柄八卦宣花斧。是一名性格直爽、粗中有細的福將，而且特別長壽，活了一百多歲，直至武則天政權垮台。據此改編的戲曲影視中，程咬金也是一個重要而可愛的角色。

說戲故事通常是從秦瓊和程咬金的童年開始，程原本家住濟南，幼年喪父，與秦瓊是總角之交，後隨母逃荒至歷城，與秦瓊分別。長大後，程咬金販賣私鹽，打死捕快，判了死緩，坐牢三年。恰逢隋煬帝大赦天下，釋放出獄。出獄後，程咬金受母親教誨，正經營生，販賣柴薪，卻遇上響馬尤通。尤有意要騙程咬金做強盜，教他斧法，程咬金總學不會。程咬金一日夢一老人，教會了他全套精妙斧法，醒來演練，卻被尤喝破，只記得三招半，這就是所謂「程咬金三斧」。對於三招半的說法很多，但無非下劈、橫抹、斜挑及擊刺等幾個關鍵動作，確實是斧法的精華所在，簡單而又實用。在打鬥中，前三斧半（三斧半：劈腦袋，小鬼剔牙，削耳朵，捎帶腿）威力無比，很多對手迅速潰敗，但若遇久持戰卻是程咬金落下風。

程咬金頭一次當強盜就做了筆大買賣，靠山王楊林的義子大太保羅芳和二太保薛亮，護送皇杠進京，他們打著靠山王的旗號，以為平安無事，誰知半路殺出程咬金。二人敵不過三斧半，落荒而逃。程咬金劫了皇杠，惹出無數事端，這才有賈柳樓（賈家樓）46人結義，反了山東。其後，程咬金三斧定瓦崗，單身探地穴，被眾人擁立，號為混世魔王。裴仁基、裴元慶父子投降瓦崗後，程咬金迎娶裴仁基之女裴翠雲。程咬金做首領不痛快，救出李密，將領袖交予他。李密日漸驕橫，冷了眾人心。程咬金等人最終投奔李世民，立下不少功勞，封魯國公。此後在《薛剛反唐》等故事中也有出場，並以128歲高齡逝世。

程咬金先稱王後讓位，源自翟讓的事跡。

半路殺出程咬金

現指一件按照計劃執行的事情，出乎意料地被某人給打斷了。

三道板斧

隨著小說形容程咬金資質不佳的印象，「三道板斧」變成歇後語，意思是「只會幾招」。

程知節碑和墓誌銘

程知節碑位于陝西禮泉縣唐太宗昭陵內，上部碑額已斷裂遺失。碑為許敬宗撰文，暢整書丹。

墓誌出土于1986年，志蓋篆書《大唐故驃騎大將軍盧國公程使君墓誌》16字，志石邊長78厘米，厚約15厘米，志文皆楷書，共45行，約2000字有餘。

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